Shlomo Melmed, MB, ChB, will transition from his role as dean of the Medical Faculty and executive vice president of Medicine and Health Sciences at Cedars-Sinai at the end of 2026 or after a new dean is appointed. He will become dean emeritus and serve as executive adviser to the president and CEO. Melmed will also continue his work as a distinguished professor of Medicine, maintain his clinical practice as co-director of the Cedars-Sinai Pituitary Center, and hold the Helene and Philip Hixon Distinguished Chair in Investigative Medicine.
Peter L. Slavin, MD, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Health System, commented on Melmed’s tenure: “Cedars-Sinai has emerged as an international leader in medical innovation and translational scientific discovery under Dr. Melmed’s leadership. His trailblazing contributions have helped turn Cedars-Sinai into a major force in academic medicine.”
Melmed has been part of Cedars-Sinai for 46 years, including 28 years leading the Medical Faculty. Since becoming dean in 1998, he expanded faculty numbers from about 100 to more than 900. Research expenditures increased from $30 million to $580 million annually during his tenure. The institution now ranks among the top 10 non-university hospitals nationwide for research funding from the National Institutes of Health. Research space has grown from 90,000 square feet to 670,000 square feet, with further expansion underway.
He played a key role in advancing interdisciplinary research, creating new departments and institutes, and strengthening graduate education by establishing both the Cedars-Sinai Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University.
“We are a stronger and more focused organization because of Dr. Melmed’s influence,” said Slavin.
Melmed is recognized internationally for his work in pituitary biology and endocrine disease. His laboratory has received continuous NIH funding since 1980. He has published extensively on pituitary disease, led professional societies in endocrinology, mentored numerous trainees now holding prominent positions worldwide, edited major textbooks in endocrinology, served as editor-in-chief for Endocrinology and Pituitary journals, and held leadership roles including presidency at several professional organizations.
He is a Fellow of the American Association for Advancement of Science, Master of the American College of Physicians, recipient of national and international awards in endocrinology, member of multiple academic societies such as the Association of American Physicians and American Society for Clinical Investigation, served on various councils including that of the Endocrine Society Council, was president of both International Society of Endocrinology and Pituitary Society (as founding member), and serves on California Institute for Regenerative Medicine’s Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee.
Looking ahead to his new responsibilities assisting Slavin and other leaders at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center—which is located in Los Angeles and was founded in 1902—Melmed said: “Serving Cedars-Sinai and our community have been the highlight of my career in academic medicine. I am truly honored and excited to open the next chapter.”
